Fetal Alcohol and Autism, is there a Link?
Yeah, Big Debate here…
The Autism Community is all in a huff over this article.
Dr Maggie Watts, vice chairman on alcohol for the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams, fears that even low levels of drinking could be related to a range of behavioural problems in young children, the cause of which has previously been a mystery.
Watts, who is also a consultant in public health medicine at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, warned that up to one in 100 Scots children – as many as 9,000 – could be suffering from Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) with symptoms including behavioural and memory difficulties.But she said many could be misdiagnosed as suffering from autism and other neurodevelopmental problems because doctors do not ask mothers about their pregnancy drinking habits when making their diagnosis.
In recent weeks, there have been a series of contradictory guidelines and reports on the ’safe’ limit for alcohol during pregnancy. Abstention throughout pregnancy is now the Scottish Government’s official advice but experts south of the Border say moderate consumption is acceptable after the first three months.
Watts is now firmly of the view that pregnant women should not drink. She said: “This condition is vastly under-recognised. It is certainly possible that children with this condition may have been diagnosed as having something else. We need to review some of these children with other labels to see whether they fit the criteria for FASD.
Huff? Talk about downright MAD, they are. But, the adoption community? Cheering! Finally someone got it right!
Stop drinking!
And me? I’m agreeing with Watts. I think alcohol consumption does cause developmental disabilities. I don’t think it causes Autism, but I do think it can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and FAS can have Autism symptoms.
My son was initially diagnosed on the autism spectrum but once we had information about his birthmom’s alcohol use during pregnancy he was given a diagnosis of an FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). He has ARND- Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder and his birth sibling who we also adopted has pFAS- partial Fetal Alcohol Sydrome. These disorders share a lot of characteristics with autism.
FASDs are often misdiagnosed as ADHD, autism, and bi-polar disorder, especially in social circles where fetal alcohol is not considered possible (like your income or social status acts as an alcohol filter on the placenta!)
I’m glad this article came out so we can finally raise some awareness. No blame for moms, just help for the kids. ~Kari
Thanks. Sometimes I feel so alone out here. I recently adopted 3 children. I adopted 2 as well children and 1 with speech delays. My 5 year old began to exhibit behavior problems and I was told fas was suspected to be the problem. I have been waiting for 6 months to get him seen by a FAS specialist. I have another 6 weeks to go before the day of the appointment. In my own independent research I have discovered that my 3 year old has FAS with all of the facial characteristics. I was looking at a picture of a child with fetal alcohol syndrome and thought Oh My God that looks just like my son. My 5 year old has been put on ritalin 10 mg twice a day. Diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, extreme impulsiveness disorder he was referred to a therapeutic program by the local board of ed
for a half day program and then when he returns to school for the other half of the day they request that he be removed from the classroom.
I suspect that my 7 year may have FASE and may be a pica child. In the meantime while I am dealing with all of this I am still waiting for these children to be seen. I get no help from the state that i adopted these children from. Article like this are excellent resources. I did not know that FAS could have symptoms of autism. I thought that my 5 year old was autistic as well. Now I know that it is all a part of the FAS. Please continue to inform us all because the medical profession is not to informed and the child welfare system is not a good job of communicating with adoptive/foster parents so that these children can get the help they so desperately need. Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank you.
Stacy this is exactly why I blog…keep reading!